Spring training: Red Sox make Aviles their man at shortstop

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Another question has been answered at Fenway South: Mike Aviles will be the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox in 2012.

Boston ended any discussion of a possible position controversy and quieted the rumors of a split between manager Bobby Valentine and general manager Ben Cherington over who should be the teams starting shortstop by assigning Jose Iglesias to minor-league camp before the team's 8-0 win Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I'm happy because I knew deep down I could play short," Aviles said. "It's just a matter of getting an opportunity. I'm just fortunate to get the opportunity and I'm going to try to help the team win."

"We have discussions every day on our team a couple times," Valentine said. "With Jose there was never a debate. I never knew what side (Cherington) was taking and I don't know if he ever knew what side, if that is what it was, that I was taking. We spoke of both players and every day we evaluated them — not only me and Ben but the entire staff. In the staff meeting last night, I think it was a pretty universal — I don't want to say 100 percent — but it was a group decision. Everyone was on the same page."

Aviles, who was acquired from the Kansas City Royals in July, went 0-for-3 on Tuesday but is still sporting a .313 average this spring. Aviles (.314 average in 107 plate appearance for Boston in 2011) became the frontrunner for the shortstop job despite being used primarily at third and second the past two years after incumbent Marco Scutaro was traded to the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Clayton Mortenson in January.

"Eventually things play themselves out and it is easy to do the right thing, I think," Valentine said. "There were a couple of factors in what we were evaluating and Mike just didn't do anything wrong, that's for sure. He did most everything right."

"Bottom line, this team's not about Mike Aviles, this team is about the Boston Red Sox winning a championship and I'm just a piece of the puzzle," Aviles said after the decision. "That's what I'm trying to do, be a piece, do my part and help the team win in any possible way."

Iglesias, who hit .235 for Triple-A Pawtucket last season, batted just .200 for the spring in 25 at-bats but had been impressive with his glove and has showed considerably more range in the field than Aviles.

"At this time we just decided for him and this organization for him to get some real regular at-bats and work a little more on the consistency of his swing and his play," Valentine said.

"It was a tough decision for everybody but I think they know what is going on. They made the decision to send me to Triple-A to get some ABs and that is something I agree with," Iglesias said.

"I think he's pretty close," Valentine said of Iglesias. "I mean if something crazy were to happen tomorrow, and Mike was traded tomorrow for, you know, Greg Maddux who was making his return or something, I think that Jose could be our shortstop. He'll just have some more difficult days developing at the major-league level than I think he will at the minor-league level. It's real tough to sharpen your teeth on major-league pitching."

Cody Ross, who will likely be the team's starting left fielder for opening day, got the scoring started for Boston. Following a walk by Kevin Youkilis and a double down the right field line by David Ortiz, Ross launched a three-run shot over the screened monster in left.

Boston added another in the sixth on an RBI triple by Dustin Pedroia and blew the game open in the seventh after Mauro Gomez capped a four-run inning with a two-run single.

Red Sox starter Josh Beckett got the win, allowing just one hit in five innings while striking out five. He also likes how the team has been shaping up behind him.

"I think it's a really good group of guys. I'm pretty excited about it," Beckett said. "We have a really good team. Everything that has happened in the past, I think everyone is ready to go play baseball."

Notes: Boston also optioned Lars Anderson to Triple-A and reassigned RHPs Justin Germano and Dog Mathis, and OF Josh Kroeger to minor-league camp. ... LF Carl Craword has been progressing in his return from a wrist injury but is likely to remain in camp for extended spring training to begin the season. ... The Red Sox have sold out all 13 games at JetBlue Park this spring.